Plattsburgh’s Rose named Rookie of the Year, leads All-Rookie Team

Plattsburgh’s Rose named Rookie of the Year, leads All-Rookie Team

SYRACUSE, NY – Plattsburgh freshman Hanna Rose (Chaumont, NY/Northwood School) has been selected the 2019 Northeast Women's Hockey League Rookie of the Year and is one of seven players to land on the NEWHL's inaugural All-Rookie Team.

The NEWHL All-Rookie Team is voted upon by the head coaches of the conference and was announced by the league on Thursday, Feb. 28, from its office in Syracuse, N.Y. Rose earned Rookie of the Year accolades for being the player who received the most points during voting for the NEWHL All-Rookie Team.

Rose, a defenseman for the Cardinals, is joined on the squad by two other Plattsburgh players – freshman defender Sierra Benjamin (Palm Coast, FL/Northwood School) and freshman forward Taylor Whitney (Livonia, MI/Little Caesars) – giving the Cardinals three members on the All-Rookie Team.

Cortland landed two players on the squad in freshman forward Amanda Gaffney (Williamsville, NY/Amherst Knights U19AA)) and sophomore forward Grace Schnorr (Camillus, NY/Little Caesars U19AAA), while Potsdam freshman forward Ellie Cleary (Buffalo, NY/Buffalo Bisons) and Oswego freshman forward Sara Cruise (Fairhaven, MA/Hoosac School – NAPHA) rounded out the All-Rookie squad selections.

With the NEWHL Championship set for this Saturday at Plattsburgh at 3 p.m., and the NCAA post-season on the horizon, Rose already has amassed 15 points on seven goals and eight assists in 2019. She boasts a +26 plus/minus rating tying her for 11th in the conference, is tied for 14th in goals scored, and is tied for 15th in total points in the league.

Benjamin is ranked among the leaders in the NEWHL in a number of categories after accumulating 18 points on 16 assists and two goals to go along with a +23 rating. She is presently tied for fifth in assists, tied for 11th in scoring, and ranks 12th in the plus/minus category.

Whitney has accrued 23 points so far in 2019 by scoring 10 goals and recording 13 helpers. She is tied for seventh in goals and points, while she ranks seventh in total assists. Her +27 plus/minus rating has given her a share of eighth place at this time.

Schnorr has produced a dominating season for the Red Dragons. In addition to her All-Rookie Team honors, the sophomore forward earned All-NEWHL Second Team accolades. She is the ony player n the NEWHL to earn a spot on both the All-conference and All-Rookie teams.

So far in 2019, Schnorr has totaled 24 points on 15 goals and nine assists - currently tying her for fourth in the NEWHL in scoring and for second with total goals. Gaffney has 15 points on six goals and nine assists and is tied for 15th in total points.

Cleary helped Potsdam earn a home playoff game in the NEWHL Semifinals by totaling seven points on four goals and three assists this season, while Cruise calculated 14 points on six goals and eight assists for the Lakers - tying her for 18th in total points on the season.

NEWHL All-Rookie Team

  • D Sierra Benjamin (Plattsburgh)
  • F Ellie Cleary (Potsdam)
  • F Sara Cruise (Oswego)
  • F Amanda Gaffney (Cortland)
  • D Hanna Rose (Plattsburgh) – Rookie of the Year
  • F Grace Schnorr (Cortland)
  • F Taylor Whitney (Plattsburgh)